A RIBBLE Valley paramedic with the North West Air Ambulance is set to trek across the Sahara desert to raise money for the service.

Caroline Pearce, 32, will take part in the six-day trek in February next year and is bidding to raise £2,000 for the charity.

The former pupil at St Augustine’s RC High School, Billington, joined the team three years ago after working as a land paramedic for six years.

Caroline, who lives in Low Moor, Clitheroe, had previously been an ambulance technician before becoming a paramedic.

She will be walking up to eight hours a day across the Moroccan part of the Sahara in the in scorching temperatures, following trails led by camels and will camp in the desert each night.

A Ribble Valley Triathlon Club member, Caroline regularly takes part in local triathlons and running events, recently running 22k up Laterigg fell, Keswick, in aid of NWAA.

She said: “The air ambulance is very close to my heart because I work for them. I see every day the vital work that the service carries out and it’s so important to help with the funding as much as possible.

“It costs around £4 million a year to keep the helicopter running and I hope that the money that I raise will make a difference.

“I have raised around £400 so far and I hope to get a lot more before the challenge starts.

“I have never done anything like this before and I’m really looking forward to it.

“The trek is going to be a very big challenge for me but I’m in good shape from being in the triathlon club and I hope that will keep me in good stead.”

To sponsor Caroline, visit www.justgiving.com/ Caroline-Pearce2 or text Caroline’s unique code NAIR 72 and an amount of £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10 to 70070.

For more information about the trek or to get involved, call Linda de Sá, challenge events officer at the North West Air Ambulance, on 0151 547 7830 or e-mail linda.desa @nwaa.net